It feels like the first few chapters are more to establish the attempt at slang the author created. Honestly, it isn't great, but I have to remember this was written for the middle grade set. However, cheesy, it is not. It's just pathetic.

This book definitely could have used a stronger editor, even for the grade they chose. Bring more focus to the story. Some chapters are done to introduce elements, I get that. But they ramble for too long. Those intros could be a partial chapter. There's elements late in the book that I kept asking "why didn't they do this sooner?" or "Hasn't more time passed than is valid for that device?" The end of the book is a nice neat wrap up, except…

I am going back to the whole slang thing. It jarred me out of the story each time. It may "fit" the world, flow well with the text, but it makes absolutely no sense. For a character who's a bot repair person or who does things with his hands, fine. The main character isn't either of those things. Just NO. ( )

This is a fun book. Kids will enjoy the action and the dangerous situations Trout finds himself in.

Recommended to:
Sci-fi fans in grades 5 and up. ( )

Publisher's Weekly (February 11, 2013)